Outdoors Calendar: 02.04.07

Texas Parks & Wildlife is planning conservation measures against
the possibility of a prolonged freeze, which could trigger a temporary
fishing ban in certain deepwater sections of the coast. If the Coastal
Bend experiences a freeze that lingers for more than two days, signs
will designate the locations where fishing will be forbidden. This is
meant to protect cold-stunned fish from easy harvest. Areas include
Conn Brown Harbor, City by the Sea, the channel near the Rockport
Racquetball Club, Kon Tiki development, the channels and basins of
Padre Isles, Bahia Bay, Palm Harbor, Cove Harbor, La Buena Vista,
Little Bay in Rockport, Rockport Harbor, Sea Gun Marina and an area
from Packery Channel to the Humble Channels near the JFK Causeway.

Sandifer speaks at Audubon meeting

Billy Sandifer is scheduled to speak at the next Coastal Bend
Audubon Society meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Corpus Christi Museum
of Science & History, 1900 North Chaparral St. Sandifer is expected
to speak about the ecosystem of the surf zone, birds, sharks, fishing
adventures and more. Meeting is open to the public without fee.
Refreshments provided. Call 728-4635.

Waldron Park trout

Texas Parks & Wildlife has released about 1,000 rainbow trout
into Waldron Park Pond in Flour Bluff. Fishing is free here. But adults
(17 and older) must possess a fishing license and freshwater stamp to
fish the pond. The daily bag for trout is five of any size per angler.
Hook & line only, please. Call 547-9712.

Arctic changes and consequences

Jim McClelland is scheduled to give a lecture that examines the
effects of Arctic melting ice on land and sea that is boosting river
flow into the Northern Atlantic Ocean. This program, at 7 p.m.
Thursday, is part of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute's
Public Lecture Series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. in the

Visitors Center Auditorium at the institute, which is on Cotter
Street next to the beach. No admission fee. Call 749-6805.

Coastal issues forum

At 6 p.m. Feb. 12, coastal geologist James Gibeaut will reveal the
latest research on the effects of development and natural dynamics have
combined to boost the threat a major hurricane would cause to property
and ecosystems. He'll pay special attention to barrier islands. This
event will be in Room 1003 of the Carlos Truan Natural Resources Center
at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. At the meeting, the water
department also will reveal a 3-D map of the new Nueces River Watershed
Basin Model. Call 882-3439 or email cbbf@ baysfoundation.org.

Free trout fishing

Lake Corpus Christi State Park has scheduled its annual kid-fishing
clinic for Feb. 17. Hour-long sessions throughout the day begin at 9
a.m. Kids ages 5 to 12 are invited to catch rainbow trout, which will
be stocked in an area of the lake for them by Texas Parks &
Wildlife. Entrance fees will be waived for participants and their
families. Area donors will provide rods & reels, bait and tackle.
And the kids get to keep the equipment as well as what they catch. They
also will receive a certificate a hotdog and a soda. Staffers will
assist anglers, clean and package their catch. You must pre-register to
participate. Call 547-2635.

Wildlife refuge events

A lecture titled "Aboriginal People of the Texas Coast" is scheduled
for noon Feb. 24 at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitors
Center. Refuge headquarters is seven miles south of Austwell on
Farm-to-Market Rock 2040. This program will be presented by Texas
Master Naturalist T.J. Fox and will focus on the lives of nomadic
tribes living near the refuge during pre-settlement times. There is no
fee for this lecture. Interpretative van tours are being offered for a
nominal entrance fee each Saturday and Sunday through April. Tour times
are 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call 286-3559 for reservations. The refuge opens
daily 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Visitor
center hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Outdoors Calendar is published Sundays. Items must be submitted
in writing, by fax (885-0535), e-mailed to ctsports@ caller.com or
mailed to: Caller-Times Sports, P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi,
78465.